KidsOutAndAbout Weekly Newsletter for the Ann Arbor / Detroit Metro Area |
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Dear KidsOutAndAbout readers:
For much of the country, it's been the hardest winter in recent memory: cold, monochrome, relentless. The kind of season that reminds us how little control we really have. We do our best to manage routines and moods and expectations, but parents feel it most. February stretches long and flat after the excitement of the holidays, before the lift of spring. You're still packing lunches,
wrangling homework, managing emotions (your kids’ and your own)... all while the cold keeps the family cooped up. This is the season of endurance.
Of course, endurance isn’t about being stoic or silent or superhuman; it’s about continuing, even when things are hard. It’s about showing up for your people, your plans, and yourself, day after chilly day. And it’s about knowing that if you’re feeling the drag right now, you’re not alone. Many of us are moving through it together.
Even for those who don't live in Nature's Refrigerator,* February can still bring its own version of stuckness: that long stretch between holidays, where kids are restless and routines feel stale. Sometimes, by February, our gray matter feels just as gray as the weather. When that happens, help is allowed! Check out our article and outsource the brainstorming to KidsOutAndAbout: Stuck Inside This Winter? 20 Creative Indoor Activities for Kids is packed with creative, practical, low-effort ways to keep your family engaged (and sane) when outside play isn’t an option. And it shows you how to tap your favorite AI to be your thought partner to personalize it for your
family. February Gray doesn’t need to be conquered; it just needs to be lightened a bit. So whether you're "out and about" or "in and not at all about," we're here to brighten the rest of your winter!
—Debra Ross, publisher of KidsOutAndAbout.com, co-author of The Eclipse Effect: How to Seize Extraordinary Moments to Build
Strong Communities
*Rochester, NY ☺️ |
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KidsOutAndAbout.com: Discover more. Do more. Connect more. If you like my publisher's column, you can easily scroll through past columns in the "Notes from Deb" section of our site. |
- Kids Take & Make: Valentine's Day Picture Frame | Harrison Township Public Library - Harrison Township Public Library - Harrison, NY 10528, Saturday, February 13, 2026, all day
- Open Skate at The Rink at Stine Community Park
- Troy, MI, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, 2026, Fri: 3–9 pm | Sat: 11 am–9 pm | Sun: 11 am–8 pm
- Dearborn Wonderlights - Dearborn, MI, Friday, February 13 to Sunday, February 15, 2026, 5:30P:M
- Fireworks and Flannels - A Cozy Night Out at Waterford Oaks - Waterford Township, MI, Sunday, February 14, 2026, 4 - 8PM
- Valentine Sensory Play: Ages 6 Months to 3 Years | Royal Oak Public Library - Royal Oak Public Library - Royal Oak, MI 48067, Sunday, February 14, 2026, 10:15AM - 11:00AM
- Hartland Winterfest 2026 - Hartland,
MI, Sunday, February 14, 2026, 1:00PM - 6:00PM
- Artist Trading Cards (ATC) Tea and Trade - Art Works! Studio LLC - Walled Lake, MI 48390, Sunday, February 15, 2026, 1 -2 PM
- Share The Love 2026 - Stand with Trans - Farmington, MI 48336, Sunday, February 15, 2026, 4:00PM
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Parents have an abundance of choices when it comes to PreK and day care options in the Ann Arbor-Detroit area! Use our Big List to help find the best one for your kiddos and check our events calendar to find Open Houses where you can meet teachers and tour
the schools.
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Winter is here and fun options for families just keep getting better! Whether you stick with what you love or decide to try something new, KidsOutAndAbout has plenty of ideas. From Ice skating, kid-friendly museums, indoor play centers, and outdoor
activities to thinking ahead to next year's school options - we've got you covered.
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EXPERIENCES create memories much more than stuff does. As you're considering gifts for family and friends, consider giving the gift of a family membership to one of our local attractions. Here are local organizations that offer memberships. If the
information above changes or if there are venues that should be added, please email us, and we'll help get those posted!
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Click here to discover Birthday party locations in the Dallas area. From Arcades to Ziplines our Big List will help you think outside the box and plan the party of your kids' dreams! KidsOutAndAbout has dozens of ideas!
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2025's Top 20 Places to Take Kids in the Detroit Metro Area, as voted by thousands of parents! Our Top 20 results page includes a list of your top picks, including winners in special categories like Top Arts Educator, Top Sports Educator, and Top STEM
Educator!
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Have a great weekend!
Debra Ross
Publisher, KidsOutAndAbout.com
Mom of Madison and Ella |
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